Well, I got my tank out and into the radiator shop yesterday, and once I saw how nasty/rusty the sending unit was, searched out a new one.
the float (plastic rather than brass) was plum full of gas.
I had bought this car about a month ago at an estate auction.
One of the VERY few things that have been done to it was that I could tell that the sending unit definitely was too shiney on the outside to have been original. I called the son in law of the orig owner, since the orig owner died a few years ago at like 94, and he confirmed that it had been changed maybe 2-3 years ago, and that the dealer he got it from had to do a search on it to find it then. Surprisingly rusty on the business end for being that new. (adds to the verification that the mileage is accurate and not been over!)
Anyway, I called the dealer that a few of my friends work at, and my parts buddy said NS1, and gave me a part number. I did a search for that number, here and another place (THANKS DAN!) and found the one that the guy at the dealer said I needed. Sent the $$$$ overnight a couple hours ago for it, then noticed that the one I took out was 1 number off from the one I found. (one I removed was a 4051144, I was told that I need a 4051145) According to my owners manual, it only lists 1 tank size for this car (19-1/2 gallon). The guy I bought the send unit from said that the number I gave him fits a 25 gal. tank from like 75-79, Cordoba, Charger, Monaco, Coronet, Fury, etc. Sounds right. I also remember from my days of owning both a 75 cordoba and a 76 Charger, that there were 2 different sized tanks that coulda been in these cars. Seems like it mattered whether the car came with single or dual exh. made the difference. No one asked me that on this case. The guy DID ask me for the engine and emission package codes from the data plate in an attempt to get me the right one. ("N 95" or not; mine's not, and E 44, too, which it IS)but he never asked whether I knew which size tank I had.
So, with the tank in for repair, how do I tell which tank I have, and therefore which sender is right??? Did the past owner put the wrong one in there? I called the shop that has the tank and he said he had "no idea"
which one this was. He said he don't list a new tank for this car but thats where he gets his info, by the length width height and gallon charts in the catalogs, for those cars that DO have new ones available. I know that I'm stuck with whichever sending unit I get, being that it isnt a commonly available one these days. I dont want to be stuck with the wrong one and then have to search again for the right one. Anyone out there have a 78 Parts manual that can tell me whether there was more than 1 choice in gas tank size on this car??? '78 Fury 2 dr HT. Oh, 1 more thing; the guy never put a sock on the end of the sender; old one, new one, NONE.

Oof. I've got a '76 FPC and _might_ have a '77, but no '78.

New floats can be had by themselves from a Ford dealer. New socks can be had from a GM dealer.

Float: Ford P/N COAZ-9202-B
Strainer: GM P/N 5651 705

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

thanks again Dan. Already got the float and sock covered, got em from Mitchells Mopar down in Ala. or Georgia via fmmopar on Ebay.
On the part number thing Ive seen where the number on the part itself is different from the catalogged number. Im hoping that either thats the case or that the orig guy put thewrong one in and the one I have coming from Arizona is right. I did a search on a couple NOS websites that Ive discovered lately and the number on the existing sending unit doesnt pop up on any. Oh yeah, Dan; That "audi" place has the #......145 that I ordered but wanted $195.... Arizona Parts wanted $70. In the other sending unit thread I also posted a place that professes to rebuild them for $109 if that helps anyone.

Me, I put Mitchell squarely in the same category as Layson (thief, liar, fraudster), but others have had OK-to-good results with him. What'd he get for the sock and float?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

only business I have ever done with the guy, sounds like you have more exp. dealing with him... I waited thru the Ebay auction and no one bid against me, though i see that he has several of these listed. I called upon winning the float auction and asked about the sock... the float was $10, the sock was $9.50, with shipping the pair was $25.45 total and I got em quicker than I expected, though the shipping but just a little on the high side. not terrible though.

Float: $4.68 from www.fordpartsonline.com
Sock: $9.64 from www.gmpartsdirect.com

So, Mitchell's prices on those items weren't too awfully far out of line.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.